Scar of Life 5 Raises Over $300K in Funds for Child Heart Patients

Last Tuesday marked a special milestone for the VinaCapital Foundation, Vietnamese Artist Agency, and Heartbeat Vietnam as over five hundred members of Ho Chi Minh City’s society congregated in The White Palace to contribute to our mission of saving the lives of children suffering from congenital heart disease.

Attendees were auctioning at the silent auction area

The grand total, $311, 925, was raised during the fundraiser where a collection of donated luxuries were auctioned including a statue of Buddha made entirely of jade, a carpet woven in Iran with the emblem of a Persian dynasty, and a fall painting portraying two Vietnamese rowing in a river engulfed by its landscape.

All the proceeds was donated to Heartbeat Vietnam program

The sales from the auctioned items as well as tickets will all be contributed towards Heartbeat Vietnam — a initiative that funds life-saving heart operations for the most financially disadvantaged children run by VCF.

A recent study of heart surgery in Vietnam estimated that there might be as many as 20,000 children waiting at any given time to receive heart surgery. Many of these children will die waiting for help or may never get diagnosed. With match funding from provincial government organizations, and insurance coverage, the cost to a donor to save a child’s life with heart surgery can be as little at $1,000.

At the start of the fundraiser Robin King Austin, CEO of VCF, took the stage thanking everyone who attended the star-studded event.

“I have to thank all of the sponsors for tonight, the table sponsors, and all of you who bid on the silent and live auction. Again, you make our work possible and I know that you walk with us and you feel the pain when a child dies needlessly. I hope we can all save a lot of children tonight before they die,” she said.

The Platinum sponsor, Gold sponsors and Silver sponsors of ours

Don Lam, CEO of VinaCapital Group and Chairman of VCF said he felt lucky and blessed to be a part of an event that would generate funds to save the lives of children.

“I hope that tonight is a time that you will open your heart and especially your wallet — open it big. Tonight is very special because our target is to go over the 1000 kids saved. At the moment we have 716, so we’re hoping to have 300 more tonight,” he said.

Later he noted the efforts of Ngo Thanh Van, a renowned actress and Heartbeat Vietnam ambassador who has saved 716 children as of today due to her advocacy and team of supporters in helping to raise funds for procedures.

The film screening featuring Thanh Van and her search for the perfect jade Buddha statue, an item auctioned and sold for $85,000, was a highlight for many in the audience as they witnessed her journey in Myanmar and her motivation to challenge the misfortune of children suffering from congenital heart disease.

During an impassioned speech to the crowd, including Vietnamese government officials, corporate sponsors, artists, and expats, Thanh Van made her case that the lives of the most vulnerable children depend on the contributions of the most fortunate.

“Our target every year is to try to lessen or even delete as many of the misfortunes as possible. I know when we grow up there are so many other problems that we have to solve, but I also know that as a grown up we have the ability to lessen or even delete the misfortune of these children. So why can’t we do that? Why?”

“Children—they deserve to live in happiness,” she pointed out.

We could not agree more with Ngo Thanh Van and are excited to continue pressing for the needs of children throughout Vietnam patiently waiting for their turn to receive a chance at a healthy heart.

Scar of Life 5would not be successful without these sponsors below. We thank them all from the bottom of our hearts for their participation in Scar of Life and your help which will save over 300 children